Saving humanity from killer robots starts today, say scientists

Fully autonomous weapons, or "killer robots," have come under scrutiny at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. It is the first time the annual meeting has considered the subject, and it was discussed amid a general flurry of interest in the world of artificial intelligence. While there was a focus on many of the benefits human society can enjoy as the field of robotics advances, one hour-long panel session Thursday considered the darker side: "What if robots go to war?" The idea of rogue robots causing havoc is nothing new: science fiction has depicted such apocalyptic scenarios for decades. But scientists, experts, and various organizations have in recent years begun to take the threat seriously.